Think before you TRASH | The monkey drank the bottle of liquor lying on the roadside

The third dimension – Individual Behaviour and Attitude

Think before you TRASH

In spite of many hardships there were lessons from Covid-19 epidemic that if understood, adopted and implemented in right perspective, has the potential to make huge difference. Apart from others, the most important learning perhaps was in the domain of environment as was evident from pristine water bodies, improved air quality that one got to observe and feel during those times. Even forests and land, with minimal human interference got space to rejuvenate.

One thing that needs no credential and is proven beyond doubt, time and again, is that ultimately it is our attitude, our actions, our behaviour that matters most. Even for successfully countering Covid-19 epidemic, “behaviour” was considered an important dimension. We all are aware that once we stopped polluting (though not by choice but by chance, forcibly during lockdowns) by remaining confined to our homes, water and air quality started improving with each passing day. Changed Behaviour (forced one) although short-lived, showed that it matters. Unfortunately, with lifting of the lockdowns and opening of workplaces, industries, situation once again started deteriorating. Alas, the learning went for a TOSS. 

So…..??? Do we have options…??? Can we do something…??? How…??? Where do we start…???

Most often an issue has to be addressed at times, at policy level, at enforcement level, at community level. Each level has its own customs, approach, timeframe and affect. What matters most is – “What we can do at local level”.

We always have the option of taking effective, small steps within our surroundings, our local eco-system that we can influence and are in our control. One dimension that can be effectively taken up at our level, in this regard, is countering the menace that is very much part of PACKAGING, because of its – “Use and Throw” aspect.  Wrappers, Plastic bottles, Take away bottles, Tetra-packs once used are thrown away carelessly that can be seen strewn around … just everywhere, without realizing the repercussions on the ecosystem – the land, water bodies and the wildlife.

One aspect that needs to be dealt with right earnest, intention, approach is to make people (read tourists) aware, be sensitive and responsive towards their environment. Facilitating adoption of less polluting and eco-friendly behaviour, attitude is the need of hour. Efforts to promote good practices and acceptable behaviour should be planned and shared in a methodical manner. This has the potential and can prove to be a game changer.

Neither are we living alone nor are we part of last generation on this planet. If we have inherited better world then it becomes obvious to ponder what legacy are we leaving behind for our young ones or for the coming generations, more importantly for our friends and cohabitates in the wild? It shook us to the core when we saw a primate gulping down the remains from a bottle of beer thrown carelessly by someone driving past (road side near Rishikesh). On another occasion, we found wrappers, broken beer bottles and what not thrown sloppily in the pristine rivulet near Maldevta (near Dehradun).

I am still searching for the answer – Why do we always blame government or the industrial house (Extended Producer’s Responsibility or EPR) when we ourselves can make the difference, by not littering, by not throwing garbage, plastic, wrappers, empty cans and glass bottles carelessly. It’s not the about absolving government and industry but it’s about “We First”. It’s about changing from “Use and Throw” to “Think before you TRASH”… It’s about BEHAVIOUR CHANGE.  

Video and Writeup by Ashutosh Kandwal